Stacking package



Feb. 3, 1970 v w. MARKEY 3,493,107 I STACKING PACKAGE Filed Feb. '3,1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

, Waltz/ Nah/(45v 19 T TOE/V573 United States Patent York Filed Feb. 8,1968, Ser. No. 704,039 Int. Cl. B65d 71/04 U.S. Cl. 206-65 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A package including a carton formed from ablank having the side edges folded to provide a hollow articlereceivingcompartment at each edge running the length of the carton. The toppanels of each compartment are positioned in spaced relationship to thearticle therein, and form a broad stacking surface whereby a pluralityof packages can be stacked in superposed relation without danger ofdamage to the articles carried thereby. The space between thecompartments can be filled with additional articles and the completedcarton can be wrapped to provide a simple package that can beeconomically made and readily handled, stored, or shipped without damageto the articles contained therein.

The present invention provides a package which is of simple constructionand economically manufactured, and which is sturdy in use to provide forease in handling, storing, and stacking with a minimum of damage to thearticles included therein. This is accomplished by forming a carton froma single blank of stiff material, which is folded to provide relativelybroad stacking panels at each side thereof for substantially the fulllength of the package. These stacking panels enablea plurality ofpackages made from the cartons to be stacked and shipped whilepermitting normal shifting of the packages without damage to thearticles contained therein. The stacking panel and the supporting sidepanels connected thereto form compartments into which articles areplaced. The stacking panels are disposed in spaced relation above thetop of the articles carried by the carton to prevent any pressures to betransmitted to the articles to cause them damage.

Preferably, the articles have a transverse dimension, as it will causethem to fill the compartments and any space between the compartments.This will prevent the articles from shifting in the carton, and willalso hold supporting side panels against displacement, thus insuringadequate support for the stacking panels, whereby a plurality ofpackages can be stacked with ease. The cartons can be provided with anenclosing wrap so as to produce the finished package, which wrap can beof a shrinkable thermoplastic material to tightly enclose the carton andsecure the articles in place therein.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 shows a plan view of the blank.

FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 show the blank being formed into the carton.

FIG. 5 is an end view of the carton showing the articles in positiontherein.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the carton showing thetransparent wrapthereon forming the package.

FIG. 7 shows an end view of a plurality of packages in stacked relation.

As shown in FIG. 1, a carton-forming blank 10 of corrugated board orother suitable stiff material is provided with a plurality of spacedfold lines or lines of weakness at each side of the blank to form aplurality of panels. While four or more panels can be provided at eachend "Ice as required by the desired rigidity of the carton, in theillustrated form of the invention the blank is provided with three foldlines 11, 12, 13 at each side forming panels 14, 15, 16 on each side ofa base 17. By folding the sides of the blank in the directions of thearrows in FIGS. 2 to 4, compartments 18, 19 are formed on each side ofthe base 17 into which articles 20 are disposed. While these articlesmay take any form, they are herein illustrated as substantiallyrectangular cardboard containers for milk or juice.

As shown in FIG. 4, the side panels 14, 16 form supporting sides forholding panel 15, which is the stacking panel having a relatively broadsupporting surface 15a and preferably extending for the full length ofthe carton, in a horizontal position. It will be noted that thesupporting sides preferably are parallel to each other and perpendicularto the base. Also, they have a height greater than the article, so thatthey will locate the stacking panel above the article to protect thearticle and prevent any load on the stacking panel 15 from beingtransmitted thereto, as might be present in a stacking operation tocause damage to the article. The space 21 between the compartments isadapted to have additional articles 20 positioned therein and, as shownin FIG. 5, the stacking panels located at a greater height than thearticles will support superposed cartons or packages and prevent themfrom contacting the additional articles, as shown in FIG. 7.

Preferably, the articles 20 have a transverse dimension substantiallyequal to the inner transverse dimensions of the compartment, as shown inFIG. 4, so that they contact the adjacent surfaces of the panels 14 and16. This prevents lateral shifting of the articles in the compartmentand also aids in holding the panels 14 from lateral shifting out ofsupporting relation with the stacking panels. Further, the articles inthe center space 17 have a transverse dimension equal to said space. Asillustrated in FIG. 4, there are two articles spanning the space, andtheir total transverse dimension is equal to the transverse dimension ofthe space between the panels 14 on each side, so that the articlesengage the adjacent surfaces of the panels and are prevented fromshifting laterally. By the engagement of the articles with the adjacentsurfaces of the panels, the panels are held against lateral movement, sothat the supporting sides are securely held in supporting position tolocate and support the stacking panel 15 in position to carry any loadas may be applied thereto incident to the stacking of a plurality ofpackages in storage or shipping.

After the carton is filled with articles, as shown in FIGS. 5 and '6, awrap is placed around the carton to form a package capable of handling,shipping and/or storing the articles. While various materials may beused to wrap the carton, in the illustrated form of the invention it isillustrated as a transparent wrap 22 of a wellknown shrinkablethermoplastic material, such as shrinkable polyethylene which covers thecarton as required.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention providesa package including a carton for holding a plurality of articles foreasy handling, storing, or

stacking, and which package is economical, easy to make,

and assemble. The carton in the package provides a broad stackingsurface on each side of the package to enable the packages to be readilystacked in transportation and storage and protect the articles fromundesired pressure and damage during the transporting and stackingoperation.

I claim:

1. A package including a plurality of articles and a carton therefor,said carton comprising a carton-forming blank having anarticle-supporting base, said blank having at least three spacedparallel fold lines at each side of said base producing three connectedpanels at each side, said panels being folded about the innermost foldlines with the edge of the blank forming the innermost panel resting onand supported by the base and forming a compartment receiving articlestherein at each side of the package with the two panels forming thesupporting sides of the compartments having heights greater than thearticle and the intermediate panel forming stacking panels connectingand being disposed between said two side panels and forming a broadstacking surface for receiving and supporting thereon a superposedpackage, said articles having a transverse width to engage saidsupporting sides and forming the means to maintain said sides insupporting position, said sides also preventing lateral shifting of thearticles in the compartments, and a wrap enclosing the carton andarticles disposed therein.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the stacking panelsextend for the length of the package.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the supporting sidepanels of each compartment are parallel to each other and perpendicularto the base and hold the broad stacking panel in a horizontal positionspaced above the articles.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the blank between saidcompartments forms an article-receiving space adapted to receivearticles.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein the articles disposed inthe space between the compartments have a transverse dimensionsubstantially equal to the articlereceiving space between saidcompartments so that said articles engage the adjacent side panels insaid compartments, whereby lateral movement of said articles anddisplacement of said side panels is prevented.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/ 1925 Dietsche 21172 XR 8/1967Becker et al.

US. Cl. X.R.

